Deputy Shot In Leg, Returns Fire, Suspect In Critical Condition

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By
Paul Johnson

PAYETTE, Idaho (KBOI) -- Idaho State Police says a deputy was wounded during a shooting a Payette area gas station.

ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker told KBOI 2News that a Payette County Sheriff's Office deputy was shot in the leg. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening.

Baker says the deputy was attemping to locate a suspect in regard to an earlier incident. He apparently approached this person at the Maverick gas station when the man fired at the deputy, who then returned fire -- criticially injuring the suspect in the chest.

Both were flown by helicopter to a St. Alphonsus in Boise.

Police say the suspect a 24-year-old Fruitland man.

Payette Primary School, which is two blocks from the Maverik, went on lockdown for about 10-15 minutes during the incident.

Police say they were searching for the suspect after an incident in Ontario earlier in the afternoon.

Ontario Police Chief Mark Alexander says the man, who was driving a blue passenger vehicle next to May Roberts Grade School, fired a single shot into the air from a handgun.

A witness called police and gave them a description of the vehicle and a license plate number, and surrounding law enforcement agencies were notified.

Police say May Roberts School was not locked down and the students were not in danger. Traffic was diverted in the area of the school while police searched for evidence.